Feel Like A Kid Again With A 90s Cartoon Party

Do you find yourself longing for the simpler times of Saturday morning cartoon marathons? Do shows like Rugrats, Hey Arnold!, Doug and Dexter’s Laboratory hold a special place in your millennial heart? If so, hosting a 90s cartoon themed bash is the perfect way to revisit the fun and magic of your favorite cartoons.

This guide will teach you everything you need to know to throw an unforgettable 90s cartoon party. You’ll get ideas for venues, personalized invitations, over-the-top decorations, catchy themed music, creative costumes, nostalgic snacks and drinks, competitive activities, and awesome favor bags. So, let’s dive into hosting a party that’ll make you feel like a happy-go-lucky 90s kid again!

Select the Ideal Venue to Bring Your Cartoon Party Vision to Life

The venue you choose sets the stage for your entire 90s cartoon extravaganza, so pick the perfect spot to accommodate your guest list size and activities. Aim for a spacious location you can really transform with decorations, games, seating areas, food/drink stations, and more cartoon fun. Great venue options include:

Backyard Bash

Hosting at home is cost-effective and easy to fully customize. String up globe lights across the patio and fence. Rent a projector and inflatable screen to project classic 90s cartoons outside as guests arrive and mingle.

Set up seating around the “theater” area with bean bags, oversized floor cushions, blankets, and lawn chairs, so people can cozy up for impromptu cartoon viewing sessions. Use folding tables and picnic benches to create a DIY bar, buffet spread, cake station, etc. A backyard offers flexibility to configure your ideal party layout.

Convert the garage or garden shed into a cartoon arcade by borrowing old gaming systems like Nintendo 64, Sega, PlayStation 1, or purchase a mini retro console with games preloaded. Ask guests to bring any vintage games they have to play.

Community Center Party

Many local community centers have affordable rentable party rooms ideal for both kids and adults. They provide built-in AV equipment to screen cartoon DVDs on a large monitor or projector. Attached kitchens make food prep easy. Large activity rooms give ample space for games and dancing.

Some community centers even have gyms with basketball hoops, rock walls, and zip lines to really get that youthful energy pumping. Avoid booking rooms with white walls – opt for a bright, colorful room that’s easy to decorate.

Event Venue Party

Hotels, restaurants, and private event venues provide convenient one-stop hosting but usually cost more. Make sure to pick a venue that allows outside catering and alcohol, so you can serve themed snacks and cocktails.

Look for venues that offer modern takes on retro fun with bowling, arcades, karaoke and more all in one. Consider hosting here on a weeknight to cut rental costs.

Movie Theater Rental

Some local theaters offer party package rentals on off-peak days. For around $100-200 you can privately screen 90s cartoon movies like The Rugrats Movie, Doug’s 1st Movie, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, and more. Guests can sit in theater seats and buy themed candy from concession stands to enhance the big screen experience.

Local Park

Check with your park district to see if you can rent a covered pavilion, clubhouse space, or picnic area. These are budget-friendly options for an outdoor 90s cartoon party, especially in summer. You’ll just need a generator or long extension cord for music and activities. Bring along yard games like corn hole, ladder ball, yard pong, etc.

No matter which venue you select, maximize available space by setting up distinct areas for activities, catering, lounging, music, games, etc. Having room for guests to spread out makes for a more dynamic, playful vibe.

Get Creative with Your 90s Cartoon Party Invitations

Once your venue is booked, the fun really begins with designing totally tubular cartoon party invitations. Go digital with an Evite featuring a collage of iconic 90s characters like the Rugrats, Doug Funnie, Rocko, Arnold, and CatDog.

Use a free invite site like Punchbowl to select from their retro, graffiti, and abstract design templates. Then upload your own character clip art. Include animated GIFs and graphics to make it pop. You can do the same for a social media event too. Use cartoon characters as the banner and profile image and keep guests entertained by posting 90s cartoon clips and a few trivia questions.

If designing print invites, go all out scrapbooking your own creations. Decorate cardstock or printable invitation templates with themed scrapbook paper, washi tape, glitter vinyl stickers and foam alphabet stickers from craft stores.

Hand-cut shapes from colored construction paper to make custom character silhouettes and decorations. Glue printable images of characters and logos onto cards. Top with a cheeky “90s Kid 4 Lyfe!” message printed from label maker tape.

For wording, include short and snappy TV quotes that immediately give off 90s cartoon vibes, such as:

Step aside adults, kids taking over! (Rugrats)
I’m ready, I’m ready, I’m ready! (SpongeBob)
Ooooooooooh yeahhhhhhh! (Kool Aid Man)

List key details like date, start/end time, dress code, parking, and RSVP instructions. Set a 90s inspired dress code like “Hella casual 90s fits” or include a “Come dressed as your favorite 90s cartoon character” note, this depends on whether you’re going for a general 90s vibe with the dress code or a costume party. Personally, I think a costume party is more fun with guests dressing as 90s cartoon characters.

Send printed invites in translucent colored envelopes sealed with stickers of characters like Garfield or Blossom for bonus nostalgia points. Digital or paper, your invites should build major hype for reliving 90s kid glory.

Decorate Your Party from Floor to Ceiling with Nostalgic Cartoon Touches

When it comes to party decor, think big and bold to delight guests with nostalgic nods to their favorite childhood cartoons. First, create life-size cardboard cutouts of characters like Arnold, Rocko, and CatDog. Prop these up around the party for selfie ops. Print and laminate speech bubbles with famous catchphrases and attach them to the cutouts.

For tables, use plastic 90s print tablecloths featuring Nickelodeon characters, logos or colorful abstract designs. Scatter squishy character toys, plushies, bendy figurines, and rubber balls around as quirky centerpieces. Reuse your favorite figurines and toys from childhood if you still have them – bonus nostalgia points!

Make oversized versions of items like comic books, trading cards, crayons, candy bars, arcade tickets, and cereal boxes from cardboard and construction paper. Prop these up on tables or shelving units you bring. They make great conversation-starter decor that gets people reminiscing.

Of course, you’ll need a totally radical photo booth station. Hang neon curly tinsel, honeycomb balls, and customized signs as a flashback-worthy backdrop. Provide bins of props like silly wigs, hats, masks, sunglasses, boas, and signs with famous cartoon catchphrases from the era printed on them.

For standout wall decor, create a mural with painted outlines of characters in a street graffiti style. Stencil on catchphrases in bubble letters. Print and hang a grid of classic cartoon lunchboxes to fill any blank space.

The more over-the-top you go with vibrant colors, props, recognizable characters and kid-style decor, the more guests will feel fully immersed in 90s cartoon nostalgia.

Cue Up Your Most Bangin’ 90s Cartoon Tunes

No 90s party is complete without the most banger tunes to transport guests back decades. Start your playlist with TV theme songs to favorite retro cartoons. Hearing the first few notes of songs like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Rugrats, Doug and Pokémon will brighten anyone’s face with nostalgia.

Here are some essential cartoon theme songs to include:

SpongeBob SquarePants
Rugrats
Hey Arnold!
The Wild Thornberrys
Dexter’s Laboratory
Doug
Rocko’s Modern Life
Aaahh!! Real Monsters
Animaniacs
Darkwing Duck
Duck Tales
The Powerpuff Girls
CatDog
Johnny Bravo

Beyond the cartoon themes, load up on pop anthems by 90s icons like the Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and *NSYNC. Add in radio hits featured on 90s movie soundtracks like Space Jam, The Rugrats Movie, A Goofy Movie and more.

Finally, include throwbacks to novelty tracks like the Macarena, Mambo No. 5, Who Let the Dogs Out, and other tongue-in-cheek campy hits ripe for dancing and singalongs.

Dress to Impress in Nostalgic Costumes & 90s Threads

No 90s bash is complete without awesome costumes inspired by the most iconic cartoon characters. Share ideas ahead of time on a party Facebook group or detailed invitation, so guests can brainstorm creative looks.

Thrift and consignment shops offer inexpensive pieces to DIY easy looks. Pair a plaid shirt with rolled jeans, add a skater wig and carry a skateboard for a convincing Otto Rocket from Rocket Power.

For characters with signature items like shirts or hats, customize iron on transfer shirts from craft stores or order custom props on Etsy. The more authentic the costumes, the more guests can channel their childhood faves.

Popular costume ideas include:

Girls

Helga (Hey Arnold!) – pink dress, one drawn-on eyebrow, barrettes
Angelica (Rugrats) – purple dress, princess crown, doll
Eliza (Wild Thornberrys) – yellow dress, frizzy red wig, toy monkey
Dee Dee (Dexter’s Lab) – pink tutu, pantyhose, hair bows
Blossom (Powerpuff Girls) – pink dress, long red wig, bow

Guys

Doug Funnie – green vest, white shirt, red shorts/pants
Arnold (Hey Arnold) – plaid button down, jeans, baseball cap
Rocko (Rocko’s Modern Life) – orange shirt, blue shorts, baseball cap
CatDog – Join with a friend for two-person costume
Beavis or Butt-Head – graphic tee, jeans, wig

Beyond specific looks, encourage any 90s-inspired outfit featuring butterfly clips, chokers, jelly shoes, overalls, neon colors, windbreakers, fanny packs, etc. Award superlative prizes for categories like “Best Dressed” “Most Authentic” “Funniest Addition” and more.

Menu Ideas: Old School Drinks & Snacks for Total Nosh-talgia

Keep energy levels high and that nostalgic spirit flowing by feeding guests classic 90s party snacks, candies, and themed cocktails.

Drink Ideas:

Blue “Rugrats” Lizard Juice – Blue Hawaiian punch with sherbet
Hey Arnold! Sunshine Punch – Orange juice, pineapple juice, grenadine
Stu Pickles Screwdriver – Vodka and orange juice
Reptar Rum Punch – Green rum, pineapple juice, blue curacao
CatDog Creamsicle Cocktail – Vodka, triple sec, orange and vanilla ice cream
Bikini Bottom Pineapple Punch – Pineapple juice, ginger ale, rum

Food Ideas:

Character Crust PB&Js – Triangle cut, crusts shaped with cookie cutters
Reptar Bars – Green-iced rice krispie treats
Cereal Bar – Bowls with Reptar Crunch, Oreo O’s, French Toast Crunch etc.
Pop Tart Bar – Frosted strawberry, brown sugar, smores
Gak Snacks – Green apple gummy worms, sour gummy worms
Crayola Crudite – Vegetable sticks served in cups resembling crayon boxes
Hey Arnold Cheese Pizza – Order square large pies for sharing

Provide retro candies like Airheads, Gushers, Fun Dip, Dunkaroos, Fruit by the Foot, Runts Banana pops, Warheads, Push Pops, Ring Pops and SweeTarts. These are perfect for snacking and cheap to buy in bulk.

Get Competitive with Themed Games & Contests

In addition to eating and mingling, your 90s cartoon party needs fun games to tap into that playful childhood energy. Station them throughout your venue or host tournaments to get people engaged and laughing together. Ideas include:

90s TV Theme Song Sing-Off – Split into teams and take turns singing songs, guessing show titles
Nickelodeon Game Show Re-enactments – Compete in slimy obstacle courses and trivia
Character Impersonations – Each person picks a cartoon character and acts as them for 1 minute
Cartoon Pictionary – One person draws a character, place or phrase from a 90s cartoon, team guesses
Who Am I? Headbands – Write cartoon characters on index cards for guests to wear & ask yes/no questions
Find the Hidden Character – Hide large cardboard cutouts around the venue. First to find all characters wins.
Arts and Crafts Station – Provide coloring pages, pipe cleaners, Perler beads, friendship bracelet string, and more for people to craft their own souvenirs

Hand out prizes like Splat Temporary Tattoos, Neon Sunglasses, Ring Pops, temporary “90s 4 Ever” tattoos, Kazoos, Slinkies, and Bubblicious Bubble Tape. Award silly superlatives too for categories like “Best Singer” “Raddest Dancer” and “TV Trivia Whiz.”

Send Guests Home with Nostalgic Favor Bags

At your epic 90s bash, guests won’t want the fun to end! Send everyone home with favor bags stuffed with themed goodies to keep enjoying. Grab 90s novelty items like scrunchies, butterfly clips, tattoo chokers, Smencils, temporary butterfly/star tattoos and candy necklaces or bracelets.

Include small plush toys of iconic characters, bendy figurines, and mini games like Tamagotchis, and Giga Pets that were hot ticket items back in the day.

No 90s favor bag is complete without the candy! Grab favorites like Airheads, Gushers, Nerds Ropes, Warheads, Dunkaroos, Shark Bites, Ring Pops, Push Pops, Fruit by the Foot, and Fun Dip. These retro treats will have guests grinning with sweet nostalgia.

Finally, add customized elements like temporary tattoos, buttons or stickers featuring the party name, date, 90s icons, or inside joke references to your event. Handing out favor bags lets the cartoon joy live on!

Conclusion

As you can see, every detail of your 90s cartoon party – from the venue, invites, and decor to costumes, activities, food and favors – presents an opportunity to delight guests with nostalgia. The more you incorporate recognizable songs, characters, catchphrases, and retro elements into your bash, the more it will feel like a blast back through time.

The goal is to recapture that feeling of carefree Saturday mornings in footie pajamas and eating cereal in front of back-to-back cartoon marathons. So grab your squads, give shout-outs to your homies, and get ready to party like it’s your childhood all over again!